Francistown SEZ-SEA

INTRODUCTION

The development of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Policy for Botswana (2011) and Special Economic Zones Act No. 13 of 2015 came as a response to the recommendations of the Business and Economic Advisory Council (BEAC) of 2005. The Policy defines Botswana’s SEZs as geographically delineated economic areas with their own SEZs Authority. The SEZ Act established the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) which is responsible for providing investor-friendly business environment with a view to attracting both domestic and foreign investors. The government aims to develop the SEZs in strategic areas across the country as a strategy for promoting the development of world class industries that will lead to the diversification of the country’s economy. The development of these will follow public sector, private sector and public-private partnerships, as the market would dictate.

BRIEF PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The objective is to prepare a Master Plan (Business case and Urban & landscape Designs) for the Francistown Special Economic Zone (SEZ). This project is part of an initiative of the Business and Economic Advisory Council of Botswana (BEAC) which recommended the development of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Policy for Botswana. The SEZ Regulations and incentives package has been developed to provide the regulatory framework regarding the establishment, development and management of SEZs as per the provisions of the SEZ Act No. 13 of 2015 and the SEZ Policy. SEZA requires that this achievement be translated into a robust Business Case and Urban Design & Landscape Design Master Plan to guide the development of the Francistown Special Economic Zone. The proposed area for the SEZ is a greenfields site adjacent to the airport. The Fracistown SEZ is themed “Mining and Logistics City”. The developments proposed around this theme are mining logistics, dry port facility, light manufacturing, financial technology and E-commerce.

PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT

Royal HaskoningDHV (RHDHV) has been commissioned by SEZA to achieve the following deliverables: o Develop a sound business case for the establishment of the area as a SEZ; o Prepare an overarching urban & landscape design masterplan; and o Prepare a strategic environmental assessment. The Urban Design Master Plan and Landscape Design Master Plan shall form the basis for the detailed layout plan of larger undeveloped land parcels, cadastral survey, 3D architectural impressions, detailed landscape designs and detailed engineering designs which will thereafter form the basis for civil engineering construction works to provide infrastructure on site. Some of the following activities will be undertaken: o Topographical Survey Review; o Strategic Environmental Assessment; o Hydrogeological and Geotechnical Survey Review; o Onsite Traffic Engineering Study Review; o Urban Design Master Plan; o Landscape Design Master Plan; o 3D Architectural Impressions; o Detailed Urban Design; and o Cadastral Survey Ecosurv Environmental Consultants have been sub-contracted by Royal HaskoningDHV (RHDHV) to undertake the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the proposed project. The following objectives are understood and to be fulfilled by Ecosurv for the SEA:

 To carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) Studies as per the EIA Act of 2011 to inform the Master Plan; and  The SEA study shall be carried out by qualified and registered EIA/AIA Practitioner with the Botswana Environmental Practitioners Association (BEAPA).

PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT

The following map depicts the project location.

SEA PROCESS

The SEA preparation process is expected to be undertaken over 11 months. The period takes into consideration the following statutory time lines:

 A draft scoping will be submitted to DEA by end of month 4. DEA is expected to review the report over a 30 day period.  A draft SEA report will be submitted to DEA by end of month 8. DEA is expected to review the report over a 60 day period and usually respond with a set of comments which then need to be addressed. The SEA is then finalised and the final copy, together with a comment response sheet is resubmitted to DEA for approval.  Once approved by DEA then a public review period lasting approximately 60 days will be required before final authorisation from DEA for the development to proceed.  If satisfied DEA issues an approval and authorisation. It should be noted that once the SEA is approved, it is a statutory document and may not be changed without DEA’s consent.

PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT

POTENTIAL IMPACTS ANTICIPATED

The following impacts could occur as a result of the development of the proposed project:

o Attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the development of high quality goods, services and employment; o Presence of riparian fringe on the river; and o Aircraft noise (minor); o Traffic related incidents; o Noise, liquid and solid waste production; o Increased demands for water and power; and o Possible heritage impacts (grave sites and archaeology).

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE

Anyone who is interested or affected by the proposed project has a right to participate in the SEA process. Please make use of the following opportunities:

 Study the information made available in this Background Information Document;  Contact the consultations team to obtain further project information, and/or raise issues and concerns (contact details provided on the attached comment sheet);  Register as an Interested and Affected Party in order to receive future project information and/or formally record issues and concerns;  Complete the Comment Sheet (attached) and return by hand, mail, fax or e-mail; and  Attend the public stakeholder meeting to obtain further project information, interact with the Project Team, and/or raise issues and concerns. Public meetings will be held at the following places:

Preliminary *Date of Venue Time Mode of Reason for Stakeholder list consultation consultation consultation Gerald 17th March 2020 Gerald Kgotla 0900hrs Public Meeting Community with Community proximity to the project area Blue-Town & 18th March 2020 Tati-Town 0900hrs Public meeting Community with Aerodrome Kgotla proximity to the communities project area

The purpose of the public meetings will be to formally announce the project, the SEA process and provide interested and affected parties (I&APs) with an opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns related to the project and SEA process and to record these questions and concerns. These concerns will then be addressed during the SEA process.

PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT

Parties involved in the process

Further consultations will be undertaken with some of the following stakeholders:

*Stakeholder Mode of consultation/engagement

Stakeholders for the Francistown Sport Complex Workshop

Francistown Economic Development Forum Workshop

Department of Technical Services (MLWS) Workshop

Francistown Development Forum Workshop

Francistown City Council Workshop

Department of Surveys and Mapping Workshop

Department of Town and Country Planning Workshop

Department of Land Management Workshop Department of Waste Management and Pollution Workshop Control Water Utilities Corporation Workshop

Botswana Power Corporation Workshop

Department of Roads Workshop

Botswana Geo-Science Institute Questionnaire

Department of Road Transport and Safety Workshop Planning Unit Ministry of Land Management, Water Workshop and Sanitation Services Botswana Fibre Networks Workshop

Civil aviation Authority of Botswana Workshop

Botswana Chambers of Mines Consultative meeting

Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) Workshop

Botswana Railways Workshop

Botswana Oil Questionnaire *Preliminary stakeholder list

PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT

COMMENT SHEET

If you would like to participate in the SEA process of this project, kindly fill in your personal details, make your comments in the sheet below and return to: Miss Carol S. Pansiri Postal address: P. O. Box 201306 Gaborone Telephone number: 3161533 Fax number: 3161878 E-mail: [email protected]

Please fill in your personal details below:

TITLE NAME

ORGANISATION

ADDRESS

TEL NO FAX NO

DATE:

CELL NO E-MAIL

COMMENTS (Please use additional sheets if you wish)

What policies, guidelines and planning processes in your department do you think will positively influence the project and how?

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PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT

Are there any policies, guidelines and planning processes that you feel will be in conflict with the proposed project? If so, kindly highlight them below and explain how they will be in conflict with the project.

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Do you have any other concerns that you feel the Strategic Environmental Assesssment should consider? (kindly highlight your concerns below).

PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT

What mitigations or solutions can you recommend for the concerns highlighted above?

Please return this sheet by hand at the workshop (19th March 2020) or

Send by email to [email protected] not later than 20th March 2020

Fax: 3161878

Tel: 3161533

Thank you for your contributions!!!

PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT